Dates

Duration

Four tiny plains-wanderer chicks hatched at Victoria’s Werribee Open Range Zoo on November 4, representing a huge milestone in fighting the extinction of the critically endangered native species. The little birds, although only a day old in this footage caught on a specially placed “zookeeper cam,” zip around on their long legs like road-runners, occasionally snuggling into their dad for warmth. A zoo spokesperson said plains-wanderers eggs are incubated by the dad, while mum wanders off to find another mate. There are less than 1,000 of these birds left in the wild and these chicks are the first to have been successfully bred in captivity in Victoria. Credit: Werribee Open Range Zoo via Storyful

Kangaroo joey Roo-Paul has taken the Australian Reptile Park by storm with his playful attitude and energy. Footage from the Somersby-based park shows the joey playing with Erica Danae, the keeper who hand raised him and took him home every evening. “Roo-Paul is the light of my life! Not only is he a little character as his name permits, but he is a great ambassador for road safety and kangaroos,” said Danae. The young kangaroo was found in his mother’s pouch after she had been hit. The roo, who is named after famous drag queen RuPaul, is much loved by zoo staff and the online community as a video of him garnered nearly 60,000 views in three days. Credit: Australian Reptile Park via Storyful

A baby in Rochester, Minnesota, was given a special gift of cochlear implants that allowed her to hear for the first time, and judging from this Mayo Clinic video, she’s delighted by it. Seven-month-old Aida Little can be seen in the clinic’s video becoming wide-eyed and smiling as she hears her parents talking to her. According to a press release, Aida was diagnosed with Waardenburg syndrome, which can cause deafness and pigment changes of the hair, eyes and skin. Doctors placed cochlear implants in her head in October. Credit: Mayo Clinic News Network via Storyful

Private Ritter was reunited with his wife at Fort Campbell army base in Kentucky, after a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan. The video uploaded to YouTube shows the couple embracing as they were reunited at the military ceremony. Friend Rebecca Schoenfeld recorded the video and described seeing the event: “It was a very emotional experience and I am so happy for her to have her soldier back.” Credit: Rebecca Schoenfeld via Storyful

Former US President Barack Obama surprised his wife, Michelle, with flowers onstage as she was promoting her new book at the Capital One Arena in Washington on November 17. Michelle Obama was talking about her husband with former Obama White House adviser Valerie Jarrett, when Jarrett announced a special guest, prompting Barack to come on stage, carrying a bouquet of flowers for his wife, NBC reported. This footage, taken by Seth Nieman, shows the Obamas together on stage, as Barack says: “It’s like when, you know, Jay-Z comes out during the Beyonce concert.” Credit: Seth Nieman via Storyful

More than 40 migrants were rescued from a raft after encountering difficulty off the coast of Ayvalik, Turkey, on November 19, the Turkish Coast Guard said. According to a statement released by the coast guard, 17 men, 14 women and 13 children were rescued from the vessel and taken to Ayvalik Port. Credit: Turkish Coast Guard via Storyful

A barber in Serbia gave one of his clients a rather unusual look when he shaved a picture of tennis star Novak Djokovic into his hair on November 4. Mario Hvala, whose work previously went viral in 2017 when he shaved Kim Jong-un onto a customer’s head, created the look at the Serbia Hair Open 2018 in Novi Sad. The realistic portrait of the World No 1, and local hero, had over 2,300 views on Facebook at the time of writing. Credit: Mario Hvala via Storyful

In a viral video originally posted to Twitter, students at Purchase College, New York, explored a unique feature in their building: a hidden chamber containing a “trash shrine” to actor Danny DeVito. Emma Murray recorded this video of their visit to the shrine, and the weird and wonderful addition to the college was accessible via a large hole in a bathroom, that according to another Twitter user, was located behind a paper towel dispenser. A corner of the chamber featured a pile of trash, presided over by an image of DeVito with a sign entreating visitors to leave their own trash offering. Vice reported that the shrine was the creative work of student Phillip Hosang. Purchase College tweeted in praise of the shrine, but unfortunately made the decision to seal up the entry, as recorded in this tweet. Danny DeVito responded to the shrine, with a tongue-in-cheek tweet thanking students and offering words of motivation. Credit: Emma Murray via Storyful

At least five people were killed and a number of others wounded, police in Haiti reported, after thousands took to the streets to protest a corruption scandal in the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince, on Sunday, November 18. The protests were largely peaceful until the end, the Miami Herald reported, when protesters and armed gangs exchanged gunfire with police in some parts of the capital. Some unconfirmed local reports said six people in total had died, citing the event’s organizers. Haiti police reported: “a lot of rocks are being thrown in the direction of the police,” as protesters arrived in front of the National Palace. Two former prime ministers and former government officials were accused of embezzlement, abuse of authority and forgery stemming from the use of funds in a Venezuelan oil loan program, in a report published by the country’s Senate in August. The protesters demanded prosecution of the officials involved. Some called for President Jovenel Moise to resign, chanting “Down with Moise!” Credit: Jake Johnston via Storyful

Texas resident Jessica Wynn was terrified to see a cricket in her home, but her three-year-old daughter, Julianna, rose to the challenge like a hero. Waving a spatula and chanting “Don’t worry, mom. I got this”, Julianna came to the rescue by attempting to capture the cricket. “Julianna is a tough and spunky girl who tries to take care of it herself as I watch in the background.” Jessica said to Storyful. Credit: levelupmami via Storyful

Photographer Geoff Green recorded this stunning set of timelapses over the outback of Kimberley, Australia, in 2018. He commented that the region has not seen a heavy monsoon season for some time, but “this season’s build up looks special.” Credit: Geoff Green via Storyful

Diver Jules Casey was fortunate to encounter a herd of happy seals during a tour of Port Phillip Bay along Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula in November. In this footage, at least five seals are seen playfully swimming around Casey, coming very close to her camera without any fear. Credit: onebreathdiver via Storyful

A veterinarian in Chico, California, tended to a cat suffering from burns due to the California wildfires in November. Dusty Spencer with the Valley Oak Veterinary Center in Chico, California, posted this video of herself affectionately playing with the visibly burned cat. Her caption states that the cat’s owner was found. The Camp Fire, burning near Chico in north California, had killed at least 76 people as of Sunday morning, and scorched at least 149,500 acres. The blaze was 60 percent contained at time of writing. Credit: Dusty Spencer via Storyful

Police in Kiev have been accused of siding with violent, far-right demonstrators after transgender rights activists and journalists were pushed by Ukrainian police into a metro station and forced to end a rally on November 18. RFE/RL’s Christopher Miller reported that counter-protesters “assaulted several protesters and attacked a Canadian journalist.” Both Miller and the journalist in question, Michael Colborne, tweeted that Colborne had been punched in the face by far-right demonstrators. Police said they were investigating the attack as an act of “hooliganism.” The transgender rights demonstrators had originally gathered at Shevchenko Park ahead of a planned march to mark International Transgender Remembrance Day but were forced to move towards the University metro station after the arrival of the counter-protesters, RFE/RL said. A small group of counter-protesters then followed the LGBT activists to the new location. According to RFE/RL, police did not try to remove the counter-protesters “but shoved the LGBT rights activists through turnstiles of the metro station while swearing at them and shouting slurs.” Journalist Natalie Vikhrov, who shot this footage, said: “Police failed in providing protection for #transmarchukraine despite calls from rights groups, inc @Amnesty_UA for law enforcement to protect participants of the march on the eve of the event.” Ruslana Panukhnyk, executive director of Kyiv Pride, wrote on Facebook: “National Police opted to protect the right to (peaceful) assembly of far-rights and traditionalist instead of Trans*march event.” Olena Shevchenko of Insight, an LGBT activist group in Ukraine, also posted on Facebook, saying, “Police didn’t protect us” and that “Ukraine seems under control of ultra-radicals.” Ukraine’s National Police issued a statement on the rally, saying that police, “in order to avoid conflict, divided the participants.” The statement also said a gas canister was fired at the University metro station and that at least two people were injured. Michael Schaaf, the director of the Ukraine office of human rights watchdog Freedom House, tweeted that the police statement failed to address “pushing, manhandling, and abusive language by officers” and “the unmistakable impression that they had cleared #TDOR activists to make way for right wing.” Credit: Natalie Vikhrov via Storyful

German driver Sophia Floersch received a spinal fracture following a crash during the Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix on Sunday, November 18. The crash injured a total of five people, including a second driver. “A serious incident has occurred on lap 4 of the 2018 FIA F3 World Cup at Macau involving… Sophia Floersch,” an FIA spokesperson reported. “Following evaluation by medical staff, the driver is conscious and has subsequently been taken to hospital for further evaluation”. Floersch’s Van Amersfoort Racing car lost control and flew over a barrier hitting a fence and wall during the race. According to a statement from Van Ameersfoort, she was admitted to the Conde S Januario Hospital on the same day. “Just wanted to let everybody know that I am fine” the 17-year-old Floersch tweeted after the incident, “but will be going into surgery tomorrow morning.” Credit: @aochan8800 via Storyful

Air quality in many parts of California has plummeted as smoke thrown up by wildfires led to “hazardous conditions” around the Sacramento and San Francisco areas on November 16. Poor air quality was expected to continue through to Tuesday, November 20. The conditions forced the closure of schools and cancellation of sporting events, SFGate.com reported. This video, shot on Twin Peaks overlooking San Francisco, shows conditions on November 16. Credit: David Cloutman via Storyful

Protests in France continued for a second day on Sunday, November 18, as demonstrators gathered to blocked roads and protest rising taxes on fuel. The demonstrations were coordinated by the Yellow Vests movement, whose supporters often wear high-visibility jackets while protesting. Several collisions were reported around the country on November 17 as drivers tried to make their way trough pickets. Le Monde, citing France’s Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, said one protester was killed by a motorist in Pont-de-Beauvoisin in Savoie on Saturday morning. In this footage protesters can be seen marching on the Champs Elysee in Paris on November 18. Credit: @ManuMakro via Storyful

There’s no stopping wombat Veg when she’s on a mission. The mother wombat, who is currently carrying a joey, decided a screen door was no barrier between her and some creature comforts, removing it from its hinges with ease. Luckily wildlife carer Donna Stepan is good-humoured and can easily put the door back in place. “Veg becomes demanding when she is carrying a joey. If no human in the household is watching the door for her, she simply takes matters into her own hands. Then of course there is the ritual of putting the door back on and resuming the ‘normal’ evening.” Credit: Sleepy Burrows Wombat Sanctuary via Storyful

Protesters blocked five major bridges in London on November 17 to demand the British government take stronger action on climate change. Thousands of people attended the protest, blocking the bridges of Southwark, Blackfriars, Waterloo, Westminster and Lambeth, according to reports. The protests were organised as part of “Rebellion Day” by Extinction Rebellion, a group whose members blockaded the UK’s energy department in London earlier in the week. Credit: Extinction Rebellion via Storyful

One protester was killed and dozens were injured as demonstrators blocked roads across France on Saturday, November 17, to protest rising taxes on fuel, Le Monde reported. The demonstrations were coordinated by the Yellow Vests movement, whose supporters often wear high-visibility jackets while protesting. Le Monde, citing France’s Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, said one protester was killed by a motorist in Pont-de-Beauvoisin in Savoie on Saturday morning. Dozens of people were reported to have been injured, including a police officer, as more than 1,000 demonstrations took place across the country, the outlet reported. This footage shows police and demonstrators in Martigues, France. Credit: celinecceline via Storyful

The conductor of DePaul University’s brass band stole the show at a college basketball game in Chicago on November 15, according to footage posted to Twitter. DePaul’s Blue Demons took on the Penn State Nittany Lions at Wintrust Arena, beating them 70-72. While the team were busy on the court, the band’s conductor grabbed a trombone and performed ‘No Problem’ by Chance the Rapper. Footage of his performance was shared to Twitter by Tyler Juckett. Credit: Tyler Juckett via Storyful

A police officer was reported to have suffered injuries after being hit by a driver in Grasse on Saturday morning, November 17, as widespread protests took place across France. This footage, shared by Nice-Matin, a local news outlet, shows a man driving into a police officer before being stopped and pulled from his vehicle. Meanwhile, Le Monde, citing France’s Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, said one protester was killed by a motorist in Pont-de-Beauvoisin in Savoie on Saturday morning. The incidents occurred as widespread protests shut down roads across the country. The demonstrations were coordinated by the Yellow Vests movement, whose supporters often wear high-visibility jackets while protesting. Credit: Nice-Matin/Gaëlle Arama via Storyful

Demonstrators blocked roads across France on Saturday, November 17, to protest rising taxes on fuel. The demonstrations were coordinated by the Yellow Vests movement, whose supporters often wear high-visibility jackets while protesting. Le Monde reported that one protester was killed by a motorist in Pont-de-Beauvoisin in Savoie on Saturday morning. Dozens of people were reported to have been injured, including a police officer, as more than 1,000 demonstrations took place across the country, the outlet reported. This footage shows police and demonstrators in central Paris on Saturday. Credit: Rémy Bournoville via Storyful

Demonstrators blocked roads across France on Saturday, November 17, to protest rising taxes on fuel. The demonstrations were coordinated by the Yellow Vests movement, whose supporters often wear high-visibility jackets while protesting. Le Monde, citing France’s Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, said one protester was killed by a motorist in Pont-de-Beauvoisin in Savoie on Saturday morning. This footage shows protesters outside a shopping center in Blagnac, a suburb of Toulouse, on Saturday morning. Credit: Melvin Gardet via Storyful